Leave the World Behind Ending: Sam Esmail on the Film’s Unanswered Questions

As someone who quite enjoys detailed lore and movie bibles, admittedly, I can be a tough sell when it comes to films with ambiguous endings. However, when a movie hits that sweet spot of offering up just enough while also inspiring you to consider the events of the film and what might happen next well after the credits roll, it’s the ultimate outcome. Rumaan Alam’s book Leave the World Behind has that effect, and now, so does the Sam Esmail film adaption for Netflix. The movie follows Amanda (Julia Roberts), Clay (Ethan Hawke), and their two kids (Charlie Evans and Farrah Mackenzie) to a beautiful Long Island rental for an unplanned getaway. Late one night, there’s a knock at the door. It’s G.H. (Mahershala Ali) and Ruth (Myha’la). They claim to be the homeowners and explain they had to return unexpectedly due to a blackout in the city. With no Internet or cell service and with the television in Emergency Alert System mode, they’re force to ride out the uncertainty together, blindly making decisions based on the possibility that a catastrophic disaster could be unfolding beyond their home. With Leave the World Behind now streaming on Netflix, I got the chance to have a brief chat with Esmail and Alam to dig into the adaptation process and their choice to leave many questions unanswered at the end of the film. Find out why they think that makes for a stronger reading and viewing experience in this Leave the World Behind interview! #leavetheworldbehind #netflix #interview For interviews, movie reviews, and more visit FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL